The Seward County Community College/Area Technical School Board of Trustees met Wednesday, February 4, 2009, for its regular board meeting.
Dr. Duane Dunn, SCCC/ATS president, presented the board with information regarding the status reports for the Board of Regents performance agreements. The status reports address the 2008 annual accomplishments toward the 2006-09 SCCC performance agreement and the 2006-09 Southwest Kansas Technical School performance agreement. KBOR had approved a three-year agreement for each institution, and an update of each report is required through 2009. The college met or exceeded target initiatives including student academic progress, student retention, the utilization of technology for advising and teaching, and the development of articulation agreements with area high schools. Target areas that were not met included a goal of increasing student participation in degree matriculation in specific university programs, and sequential semester retention of adult education students in degree programs. The SWKTS status report indicated target attainment of student completion rates, student retention, and student participation in associate degree programs. Target areas, which were not met, included placement of non-traditional students and transfer to university degree programs. The college will submit a new three-year plan for SCCC/ATS to KBOR for review and approval prior to July 1, 2009.
The board approved a new Coding and Reimbursement Specialist Certificate Program. The proposed program will include instruction for medical coding and billing practices, which will lead to potential employment in area hospitals, clinics, and other medical care entities. The administration will submit the program for approval through the Kansas Board of Regents. Once approved, Sherry Farrell, instructor, will begin the program in fall 2009.
Linda Billings of Byron Bird and Associates presented the audit report for the year ending June 30, 2008. The college received an unqualified opinion with no statutory or budgetary violations. The board accepted the audit as presented.
The board approved retaining the current tuition and fees for the 2009-10 school year. Tuition and credit hour fees for 2009-10 for all programs will be $62, in-state; $72, border county; $85, out-of-state and international; and $86, Seward Online. Although Area Technical School students paid an application fee and different tuition rate for 2008-09 based on practice of tuition/fees prior to the merger, all students will pay the same tuition in the fall for credit courses. This will result in a lower credit hour tuition rate for students in the ATS programs and a slight overall increase in the fees for students enrolled in a full year technical certificate. The SCCC/ATS tuition and fees remain among the lowest of any college in Kansas.
After the merger of SWKTS with SCCC, the administration submitted a change in status and name to the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, which accredits the college. The college has received official approval and a representative from the Higher Learning Commission will be on campus this month to meet with college officials.
Cynthia Rapp, dean of instruction, announce that the Medical Laboratory Technician program is up for re-accreditation and the site visit is scheduled for March 4-5.
Celeste Donovan, dean of student services, reported that she is taking students to the different Regents universities in the state to meet with alumni who are attending those universities. The concept is to help present students decide what their next step is in regards to their education. In addition, the college can get feedback from our graduates on their experiences while attending SCCC/ATS.
Tommy Williams, dean of administrative services told the board that the state will probably request about a 4 percent rescission of funds from each educational institution in the state to help with the budget crisis in Kansas.
He also said there is a possibility of money from the federal stimulus plan in support of higher education.
In other action, the board
1. Hired J.R. Doney as director of marketing and Brett Crow, agricultural instructor and livestock judging coach;
2. Accepted the resignation of Dr. Susan Lukwago, director of adult basic education, and directed the administration to post that position for hiring;
3. Accepted the early retirement of Lee Courtney, social science instructor; Frank Challis, speech and drama instructor; and Diane Heiers, Business Division secretary, effective June 30, 2009;
4. Approved the deletion of board policy #512 that covered travel advances, a policy that was no longer needed due to changes in electronic financial records and bank accounts;
5. Approved June board meetings for June 1 and June 22 to close the 2008-09 school year and July board meetings for July 6 and July 20;
6. Approved the purchase of 18, 20-inch iMac computers from Apple Computer of Austin, Texas, in the amount of $23,922.
7. Accepted the quote from GenesisFour Corporation in the amount of $5,847 for Genesis software that will be used in the Automotive Business Management program for inventory, accounts receivable and payable and general ledger; and
8. Accepted the quote from SimplexGrinnell of Wichita in the amount of $210,000 for a fire alarm system upgrade for the original Hobble Academic Building, the Shank Humanities Building and the original Student Activities Center; and accepted the base bid and add alternate from Mid-Plains Construction of Plains in the amount of $104,604 for a 5,500-square foot wash rack addition to the agricultural building. Both of these projects are funded through the state bond loan program, which is interest free fund with an 8-year repayment.
Upcoming events include a Dole lecture series on Abraham Lincoln, 4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 8, SW229D; brunch, 11-1:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 15, in the student union; Homecoming, Saturday, Feb. 21; and a regional science fair, Saturday, Feb. 28.
The next board of trustees meeting will be Monday, March 2 at the area technical school site, 2215 N. Kansas.